Employability Services celebrates ten-year anniversary

Published:15:40Friday 04 November 2016

NHS Tayside’s Employability Services programme has helped to transform hundreds of lives over the last decade.

Employability Services, formerly known as the Healthcare Academy, provides a range of health and social care pre-employment programmes, work experience opportunities and education and training for people who may not have considered care as a career.

More than 1000 people have participated in various programmes delivered since the first initiative in 2006, helping them improve their individual employment or educational prospects and help them begin careers with health, social care or other employers.

The programmes are developed in partnership with NHS Tayside, the Department of Work and pensions, Skills Development Scotland, Dundee & Angus College, Perth College:UHI, Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross Councils, as well as the independent and voluntary sectors.

To celebrate the programme’s ten-year anniversary, a special celebration event was held at the Gannochy Theatre today (Friday) at Ninewells Hospital. The event looked back at successes over the last ten years and focused on partnership working within Employability Services programmes.

The event also heard from some of the programme’s success stories from the last decade.

Jennifer Gall participated in the Employability Services Administration Academy, which is a partnership between Dundee & Angus College, NHS Tayside and the University of Dundee. Jennifer is currently working in the Tayside Pharmaceuticals department at Ninewells Hospital.

Jennifer said: “I love working in administration, it’s something I have always wanted to do, and I feel so lucky because I am working with a lovely group of people and I feel that working for the NHS means that I am working in a small community, for the wider community.

“I’m so thankful for all the help I have had and just want to go on to a long and fulfilling career.”

Adam Griffin was among the very first Employability Services participants in 2006 and now works as a healthcare assistant in the plastic surgery department in Ninewells Hospital.

He said: “The Academy has been one of the best things I’ve ever done because it led me to this job, which has opened up how I can help other people who need help and care, not only practically, but as a sympathetic ear. It’s also given me an insight into myself.

“There are so many opportunities in this job to develop yourself and to develop your ability to make things better for patients. I am so glad I took the first step towards a career in the NHS.”

Munwar Hussain, Chair of NHS Tayside Employability Services steering group, said: “As an organisation we are committed to providing opportunities for individuals to experience or undertake work placements within NHS Tayside and partners through programmes that are delivered by our Employability Services Department.

“The Employability Services programme has made an extremely positive impact on the lives of many local people. It is an example of how positive partnership working can make a positive difference.

“I would also like to express my thanks to all our placement providers for their ongoing commitment and support in providing exciting opportunities for participants as part of the Employability Services programme.”